*Source: Department of State, Central Files,
793.00/6-1962. Secret; Priority: Drafted by Yager; cleared by Allen Evans,
Deputy Director for Research in the Bureau of Intelligence and
Research, and in draft by Harriman; and approved by Rice.

1Clough reported in telegram
991 from Taipei, June 21, that President Chiang was ill but that he had an appointment with
Vice President Ch'en on June 22. (Ibid., 793.00/6-2162) He reported
in telegram 995, June 22, that he had seen Ch'en, who “assured me
GRC would act very carefully and
would not provide Chinese Communists with pretext for attack.” Ch'en
declared that the Chinese Communist buildup might be for offensive
or defensive purposes and urged that the United States and the
GRC should increase their
alertness and prepare for the possibility of aggressive action.
(Ibid., 793.00/6-2262)